Optical apparatus and method of using the same



E. H. LYSLE.

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 10. 1916.

1,367,487. Patented Feb. 1,1921.

YSHEETS-SHEET I.

65 5Q 69 go 53 0 100 as S J INVENTOR Ebmoxzrijflyg/g,

MESS 8V A TTORNEYS E. H. LYSLE. OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USINGTHE SAME- APPLICATION FILED mm- 10. 1916.

1,367,487. Paltented Feb. 1,1921.

ISHEETS-SHEET 2- iL' L1 93 J INVENTOR Edna/7d WITNESS A TTORNEYS E. H.LYSIL E.

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

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E. H. LYSLE.

OPT [CAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED 10. 1916- 1,367,487. Patented Feb. 1, 1921 7SHEETS-SHEET 4.

A IN VEN TOR WITNESS g9 MW BY L ATTORNEYS E. H. LYSLE.

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- 10. 1916.

1,367,487. Patented Feb. 1,1921

7 SHEETS-SHEET 5- INVENTOR EZZmwVJZw/. I

- ATTORNEYS E. H. LYSLE.

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

1 APPLICATION FlLED MAR-10. 191s. 1,367,487. Patented Feb. 1,1921

YSHEETS-SHEET 6- T A T J A INVENTOR A zdmmmg WITNESS ATTORNEYJ t. H.LYSLE.

OPTICAL APPARATUS AND METHOD OF USING THE SAME.

APPLICATION FILED MAR- I0. I916.

1,367,487. Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

7 SHEETSSHEET 7.

J86; J44 J79. 1a.

INVENTOR Edmond/[Lyak A TTORN E Y5 UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDMOND H. LYSLE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 10, 1916. Serial No. 83,233.

To (ZZZ Iv/L077], it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDMOND H. LYsLn,'a citizen of the United States, anda resident of the city of New York, county of New York, in the State ofNew York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in OpticalApparatus and in Methods of Using the Same, of which the following is afull, complete, andexact description.

' My invention relates to optical apparatus and method'of using thesame. The invention is peculiarly adapted for recording and projectingpictures of objects in motion, and by its use the photographic recordand the projection of the same upon a suitable screen may be and is acontinuous operation, as distinguished from an intermittent one, thusdispensing withand entirely eliminating the usual shutter or the use ofany mechanism whatsoever, the function of which is to *ause the light topass intermittently through the lens system.

In the cameras ordinarily used for making photographic records of ananimated scene or object, a suitably sensitized photographic medium iscaused by various mechanical mechanisms to pass with an intermittentmostantially adjacent portions of the film to the action of the lightpermitted to enter the camera through the lens system. The film is givenan intermittently progressive motion, and a portion of the film isexposed during the period that the film is at rest. When the shutter isclosed, to prevent the entrance of light into the camera, the film israpidly shifted or progressed to bring the next successive portion ofits sensitized surface into position for exposure and then heldstationary during the, period that the shutter is opened.

In apparatus.ordinarily used in projecting motion pictures, the sametheory or principle of operation and the same or similar or equivalentmechanism or mechanisms are employed'to cause an intermittent travel orprogression of the image surface, and to cause a beam of light to passintermittently through the image strip or positive print and out of theprojector. said light being allowed to pass through the lens to thescreen at intervals when the image strip or positive is stationary.Various applications of this same idea have been heretofore developed,but the basic principle, the'underlying optical theories, and themechanical constructions embodied therein are substantially identical.

It is obvious that when either a camera or projector of the abovedescribed ordinary type is employed, all of those phases of 'the motionor changes in position of the object in motion occurring during theintervals when the shutter of the camera is closed, must be lost to therecord on the film, and to the projected scene on the screen, andalthough the proportion of the recorded to the unrecorded action ormotion of the object photographed may be considerably varied by adoptingdifferent gearing rela tions between the shutter and the film actuatingmechanism, the shifting of the film and the incidental closing andopening of the shutter necessarily require an appreciably dcfinitelength of time, during which the photographic functions of the came a orthe projecting functions of the projector must necessarily be suspended.It is therefore readily apparent that no absolutely completephotographic record of ananimated scene or object or more than a partialrecord of the motion of the same can be made by means of any such systemor apparatus as has been above indicated.

The phenomenon which is ordinarily de scribed as ainoving picture is'inreality merely an optical illusion achieved through what may bedescribed either as a function or a lack of precision in the operationof the optic nerve and retina of the eye, and which is known aspersistance of vision. The theory of motion picturesheretofore producedis based merely on the premises that if a vivid image be impressed uponthe retina of the eye it will not fade therefrom for an appreciablespace or interval of time, and that if a successive series of separateand distinct pictures substantially registering with each other but eachrepresenting a different or a more. advanced stage in the motion of agiven scene or object, be presented in such a rapid succession that theeye is un able to distinguish any period or time of change between theseparate pictures, the illusion of motion will be produced.

In the systems heretofore employed there are. however. certain inherentditficulties and shortcomings, a serious 0ne,of which is Patented Feb.1, 1921.,

picture on the film into the strain to which the eye' of the observer issubjected. When a picture has been brought to a stationary positionbetween the source of light and the projecting lens, and the mechanismhas caused the shutter of the rojecting machine to open, a verybrilliant and vivid image is thrown upon the screen and thence presentedto the retina of'the eye. The shutter, however, closes almostimmediately after opening, and a period follows in which there is noimage or picture whatever upon the screen. The retina of the eye,however, does not act so quickly, and the image upon the retina, whichat the moment of the opening of the shutter was at its maximum ofbrilliancy, commences to fade away from the very moment when the shutteris closed in bringing the next successive osition for projection uponthe screen. i ow, in this intermittent system of projecting motionpictures the frequency of pro ection is so timed or.

calculated that the shutter or projector will reopen and throw thesucceeding picture upon the screen before the image of the precedingpicture shall have faded from the retina of the eye of the observer.There must be, therefore, an appreciable interval of time required toshift the film and to close and reopen the shutter, and since there isno actual image upon the screen'during this period of change, there isproduced upon the retina of the eye a decided variation between thebrilliancy of the image when it is first conveyed to the eye and when ithas almost .faded, just previous to the presentation thereto of thesucceeding picture. It is readily apparent then that, so far as theoptical mechanism of the eye is concerned, the illusion of a motionpicture consists in a rapid succession of brilliant flashes and a .theshutter is open with respect to the time that it is closed, theinjurious effects on the eye may be somewhat reduced, they mustnecessarily at all times exist to a considerable extent. I 7

It must also be apparent that the impartation ,to the photographic filmthrough a projector of the rapid intermittent motion aboveindicated'tends to rapidly destroy or injure the film, which isnecessarily of relatively making a continuous delicate texture, and, asthe film wears, the

progression thereof through the projector is liable to vary'from what itoriginally was, due, for instance, to the enlarging of the holes orperforations in the'edges of the strip or film, .by means of which themotion of the'driving gears is imparted to the film, and this would tendto destroy the perfect registration of the successive images upon thescreen, thus causing either a blurring of or lack of distinetness in theresulting picture on the screen, or possibly a lateral or verticalmovement of the picture as a whole upon the screen.

The invention of this application may be said to differ and bedistinguished from the apparatus heretofore in use and above de scribedin at least two distinct particulars, namely, (1) the film or sensitizedsurface of a camera, or image surface of a projector is given acontinuous motion, as distinguished from an intermittent motion asabove: described, through the camera or through the projector, and (2)all ordinary forms of shutters are eliminated so that there is nointerval of time during which the camera or projector when in use is notrecordin'g or projecting.

In the system forming the subject matter of this application, the lensis stationary during the operation of the mechanism, and is continuouslyopen, and the film or negative or image strip isgiven a regularcontinuous steady longitudinal motion within the camera or projectorduring the operation of the same.

The device of this application is a combined camera and projector. Theessential features of construction operate in the same manner whetherthe device is operating as a camera or as a projector.' The principallens system may be the same in the camera as in the projector. When usedas a camera, a sensitized photographic film is caused to pass into thefield of light entering the camera through the lens system. When used asa projector, a strong light is projected through a positive print andout through the lens system to a screen or similar surface. When used asa camera, the film is a sensitized film when used as a projector, thefilm is a positive print of the negative produced by the' device whenoperating as a camera. The film, in either case is a long,

narrow preferably flexible" strip of celluloid,

or similar material.

One object of this invention is to provide an improved optical devicefor continuously photographic record of an object in motion. Anotherobject of this invention is to provide an improved optical device,adapted to be utilized as a camera, for making a negative photographicrecord through a fixed lens system upon a photographic recordingmediumwhen it is in constant motion at the point, and during the interval, ofexposure.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized as a projector for projecting an imagefrom a continuously moving projec' tive medium such as, for instance. animage strip, or series of positive prints through a stationary lenssystem to a fixed point upon a proper screen.

Another object of this invention is to pro vide an improved opti *aldevice adapted to be utilized as a means by which a continuously movingproperly sensitized photographic medium can be exposed to the action ofthe rays of light projected by a stationary lens system for apredeterminable shorter interval than is actually required topass theexposed portion of the film across the image circle of the lense.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice for maintaining an optically precise and .stationary relationshipbetween a. given object, the optical center of a fixed lens system and aconstantly moving photographic medium.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized as a camera for producing upon acontinuously moving photographic medium a consecutive succession ofcorrelated negative photographic records of the successive phases of anobject in motion.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized as a camera for continuously exposing aproperly sensitized photographic medium to the action of rays of lightprojected by a fixed lens system in such a manner as to produce upon thesaid medium aseries of consecutively successive impressions such as willconstitute a complete negative photographic record of the motion of anygiven object.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized for projecting upon a proper screen apositiveprint made from the above mentioned negative photographicrecord, in such a manner as to present to the eye a single fixed andcontinuous pictorial reproduction of any given scene or object withoutthe loss of any of the motion or graphic characteristics of the originaland substantially independent of that peculiar optical faculty, which iscommonly referred to as a persistence 'of vision.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized as a camera for obtaining through a fixedlens system upon a continuously moving and properly sensitized medium anegative photographic record of the full and precise color values of anygiven scene or object either stationary or in mot1on.

A further objectof this invention is to provide an improved opticaldevice adapted to be utilized for projecting upon a proper screen apositive print made from a negative photographic record mentioned in theforegoing paragraph in such a manner as to present to'the eye-a singlefixed continuous pictorial reproduction of any given scene or objectwithout the loss ofany of its visual characteristics either as to line,color or motion. I

Other objects of this invention will appear in the specification andclaims below.

In the embodiment of my invention as illustrated in the drawings forminga part of the present application, and as applied to a camera, I employtwo sets of carriers, one for a series of reflectors and onefor thesensitized surface upon which the photographic record is formed, and thefirst carrier for convenience will be referred to as the reflectorcarrier, and the second as the film carrier.

The co-acting portions of the two carriers lie or are arranged in planesmaking right angles with each other. The cooperating portions of thetwov carriers are arranged to move in their respective planes in lineswhich make an angle of 45 with the plane of the other carrierl Forconvenience. the operative portions of the two carriers will be referredto as being arranged, one in the horizontal and the other in thevertical plane. Vhen the plane of the operative portion of thereflecting carrier is in a horizontal plane, the co-acting operativeportion of the film carrier will lie in a vertical plane, but thedirection of the movement of said portion of the reflecting carrier inthe horizontal plane will be at an angle of 45 to the vertical planewhich has been assumed to be the plane of the co-acting portion of thefilm carrier. and conversely. when the plane of the operative portion ofthe film carrier is a vertical plane. the direction of the movement ofthe film carrier in that plane is at an angle of 45 to the horizontalplane which has been assumed to be the plane of the reflector carrier.

Looking at the disposition of the co-acting portions of these carrierswith respect to each other from another point of view, and definingtheir positions with respect to the principal axis of the lens system.the plane of the operative portion of the reflector carrier will becoincident with or parallel to the principal axis of the lens: thedirection of the travel of the reflector carrier in that plane will beat an angle of 45 to the principal axis of the lens and the motion willbe, generally speaking. in a direction away from the lens; the directionof the tavel of the reflector carrier in that plane will be at an angleof 45 to the principal axis of the lens, and the motion will be,generally speaking, in a direction away from the lens. At the same timethe plane of the co-acting operative portion of the film car-.

rier will be coincident with the principalaxis of the lens system;-.1twill be normal to the plane of the reflector carrier and the directionof the travel of the film carrier in said plane will be at an angle of45 to the principal axis of the lens and generally in a direction awayfrom said lens. The disposition of the two carriers with respect to eachother, and their direction of travel are clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Considering the apparatus to be set up and positioned in the mannerindicated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, with the operative portion of thereflector carrier lying in a horizontal plane, the direction of themovement of the reflector carrier in that plane will be at an angle of45 to. the principal axis of the lens, transverse thereto, and generallyspeaking, away from the lens system, while the operative co-actingportions of the film carrier will move in a vertical plane coincidentwith the principal axis of the lens, and the direction of the travel ofthe film carrier will be at an angle of 45 to the principal axis of thelens, and generally speaking in a direction away from the lens.

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of the specification and inwhich the same reference characters are employed to designate the samepartsthroughout the various views, Figure 1 is a side elevational view,with the casing in section, of one embodiment of my Invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the section shown in Fig. 1, the casing beingshown in horizontal cross section;

Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in isometric projection, therelation of the operative parts of the mechanism, shown in Figs. 1 and2, to each other and to the lens system;

Fig.4is a fragmentary detailed view of the mechanism for holding thefilm on the operative portions of the film carrier, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view, partly in longitudinal cross-sectionof the film carshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is a diagram to show how the distance between the optical centerof the lens system and the operative surfaces of the film is maintainedconstant;

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are diagrammatic views showing how the surtaces ofthe refiectors and the co-acting surfaces of the film or film carriersmove with respect to each other;

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary plan view of 'a sensitized film adapted to beused with a camera constructed to operate in the apparatus shown inFigs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 14 indicates a portion of a positive film strip formed from anegative produced from an exposed film having a structure as shown inFig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a section or portion of the filmshowing the manner in which the images are arranged with respect to eachother when passing through the device when operatedas a proje tor; and

Fig. 16 is a diagrammatic view showing one manner in which aphotographic record produced by a camera constructed inaccordance withthe showing in Figs. 1 and 2 may be used in a projector'forprojecting'said picturesupon a screen to produce a motion picture.

For the purpose of describing my invention, I will first describe thedevice as operating as a camera for making a 'photographic record of anobject in motion. and will thereafter describe the operation of thedevice when operating as a projector.

Referring then particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, there is provided alight-proof casing 1, within which is inclosed the operating mechanismand upon the front side thereof is mounted a fixed lens system 2 of anyap- PIOVEd type, which lens. system is stationarily mounted with respectto the casing 1. It is not necessary to provide shutters forintermittently opening and closing the lens idly mounted two brackets 4and 5, which extend upwardly. The bracket 4 has two laterally projectingarms 6 and 7. and the bracket 5' has two similarly dis )osed laterallyprojecting arms 8 and 9. ee Fig. 8.).

Journaled in the arms 6 and 8 of the brackets 4 and 5 respectively is ashaft 10, upon which is mounted a pair of idler pulleys 11 and 12, eachnear the opposite ends of the shaft 10 respectively and adjacent thearms 6 and 8 respectively. I

Similarly journaled in the arms 7 and 9 is ashaft 13 also carrying twoidler pulleys 14 -15, mounted between the arms 7 and 9 of the brackets4-5 similarly to the manner in which the idler pulleys 11 and 12 aremounted.

Also mounted in the brackets 45,' and substantially midway between theshafts 10 and13 is'a driving shaft. 16. upon which is rigidly mounted agear wheel 17 having teeth 18, preferably of the spiral gear type. Theshaft 16 is preferably in the same horizontal plane as the shafts 1t)and 13.

Arranged over and around the idler pulleys 11, 12, 14 and 15respectively is a carrier for the series of r'eflectors used in thedevice. Said carri'er consists preferably ofa series of links 19, theadjacent ends of which are pivotally connected together by pivot pins 20so that the said links and pivot pins form substantially an endlesschain extending around the said idler pulleys. The width of the links 19is preferably substantially equal to the distance between the adjacentfaces of the idler pulleys l1 and 12 respectively, and the idler 'mlleys14 and 15 respectively, and the pivot pins 20 preferably extendinglaterally beyond the sides of the links 19, so that the said endlesschain is supported upon the said idler pulleys 11, 12, 14 and 15 by theengagement of the pins with the periphery of said idler pulleys, as isplainly indicated in Fig. 1. Each link is provided with a block orsupport 21 upon each of which is mounted in any particular manner areflector 22. These reflectors may be of any approved type, but they areshown in the drawings as being metal prisms each having a highlypolished reflecting surface 23:

The bracket 4 is provided at its top with laterally projecting parallelarms 24-25, and below and parallel thereto with two other laterallyprojecting arms 26 -27, each pair forming between them a guidewaybetween whieh the.- ends of the pivot pins 20 pass and by which theseries is guided in their travel between the idler pulleys 11-14, andthe bracket 5 is similarly provided with similarly disposed arms 28, 29,30 and 31, between which the opposite ends of the pivot pins 20similarly travel between the idler pulleys 12 and 15.

The inner face of each block or support 21 of the links 19 is preferablyprovided with teeth 32 meshing with the teeth 18 on the opposite sidesof the gear wheel 17. From this it is plain that when motion is impartedto the'shaft 16-, the gear wheel 17 is rotated and, by virtue of theengagement of its teeth 18 with the teeth 32'on the inner sides of thelink 19, the chain formed of the links 19 will be driven in an endlesspath around the idler pulleys 11, 12, 14 and 15, said endless chainbeing held in engagement with the teeth'of said gear 19 by theengagement of the ends of the pivot 20 with the guiding surfaces formedbetween the arms 24, 25. 26, 27, 28. 29, 30 and 31, and that the linkswill travel in a right line between the idler pulleys by reason of theengagement of the ends of the pivot pins 20 with the guideways abovedescribed.

For convenience in describing the relative position of the various partsof the me. hanisni with respect to each other, and with respect to thelens system, the apparatus may be presumed to be set up in the manner indicated in Fig. 1, that is to say, with the bottom of the casing 1horizontal, the axes of the shafts 1t), 13 and 16 in a horizontal plane,and the principal axis of the lens system 1 extcndii'ig in a horizontalplane. It is to be understood, however, that the apparatus may beoperated successfully, with the apparatus set in some plane other thanthe horizontal. .\n understamling of the relation of the parts, however,will be most readily arrived at if it be assumed that the abovedescribed planes are horizontal.

The reflector mechanism above described is so disposed with respect tothe principal axis of the lens that the center of each reflectingsurface. in its horizontal operative travelbetween the idler pulleys isin a horizontal plane coincident with the principal axis of the lenssystem 1.. The direction in which the reflectors travel in saidhorizontal plane, however, is at an angle of 45" to the principal axisof the lens system. To obtain this relation the axis of the shafts 1t),13 and 16 are arranged in a. horizontal plane and extend at an angle of45 to a. vertical plane passing through the principal axis of lenssystem. The relation of the reflector system to the lens is clearlyillustrated diagrannnatically in Fig. 3.

Mounted within the casing 1 is also a film carrying system or mechanismwhich will be next described.

'ithin the casing 1 are mounted two brackets 33 and 34 within which isjournaled a shaft 35. The brackets 33- and 34 are preferably secured tothe rear wall of the casing 1 and their free ends extend down- \vardlyas is clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 7. The bracket 33 is providedwith two laterally extending arms 36 and 37, while the bracket 34 isprovided with two similarly arranged and disposed arms 38 and 3t).\Vithin the free ends of the arms 36 and 38 is mounted a shaft 40, uponwhich are rigidly mounted two idler pulleys 41 and 42, and in the arms37 and 39 is journaled a shaft 43, upon which is also rigidly mountedidler pulleys 44 and 45.

The idler pulleys 41 and 42 are spaced apart from each other and eachlies adjacent its respective arm 36-38, and the idlers 4445 aresimilarly mounted and arranged with respect to each other. Upon theseidlers 41, 42, 44, and 45 is mounted the carrier for the photographicmedium. In a camera this medium is preferably a sensitized strip orfilm, while in a projector, the

' photographie medium 46" would be a posilinks or blocks 47 to engagethe peripheries of the idlers.41, 42, 44 and 45, as the chain in itstravel passes around the same. The inner sides of the links 47 areprovided with a rack 49 having teeth which are adapted to mesh with theteeth 50 of the gear wheel 51 rigidly mounted on the shaft 35.Preferably the teeth of the said gear 51 and the rack 49 are of thespiral gear type, as illustrated in the drawings.

The bracket 33 is preferably provided with two pairs of laterallyextending arms 52, 53, 54 and 55 forming between them guideways withinwhich one end of each of the pivot pins 48 pass on one side of the chainin their travel between the idler pulleys 41 and 44, while the bracket34 is similarly provided with four laterally extending arms 56, 57, 58and 59, which respective pairs of arms form between them similarguideways for the other ends of the pivot pins 48 in their travelbetween the idler pulleys 4245. The guideways so formed also serve tohold the teeth of the racks 49 on the links or blocks 47in drivingengagement with the teeth 50 of the gear wheel 51. Each link or block 47carries upon its outer surface a block 60 preferably in the shape ofone-half of a cube, said cube being cut diagonally to form a prism andthe face of the prism so formed having the greatest area is mounted tobe in engagement with the link. i

The axes of the shafts 35, 40 and 43 are I ing through the principalaxis of the lens system.

It will be seen that the reflecting surface 23 of each reflector isarranged to intercept the principal reflecting axis of the lens systemat an'angle of 45 as the said surface passes through the same while theactive surfaces of each prism of the film carrier is disposed one in ahorizontal plane parallel to the principal axis of the' lens system andthe other in a vertical plane normal to the principal axis of the lenssystem.

The carriers for the reflectonsystem and the carriers for the film orphotographic medium are driven at the same linear speed and thereforethe cotiperating surfaces there toothed gear 63 which meshes w 1th anddrives a spiral toothed gear 64, in turn rigidly mounted upon a verticalshaft 65, which is journaled in suitable bearings in the bracket '66,rigidly secured to the interior of the casing 1. The vertical shaft 65carries below the gear wheel 64 a second spiral toothed gear 67, whichmeshes with and drives a spiral toothed gear 68, rigidly secured to theshaft 16, which shaft, as beforedescribed, is journaled in the brackets4 and 5 and forms the driving shaft for the carrier for the reflectors.Thus, when the crank 62 is turned the upper course of the series ofreflectors 23 will be caused to travel in a horizontal plane, andtransverse to the principal axis of the lens system, said series ofreflectors crossing the principal axis at an angle .of 45,and moving,generally speaking, in a direction away from the lens system.

Simultaneously, the lower course of the carrier system for the film orphotographic medium will be given a motion in a vertical plane passingthrough the principal axis of the lens,'the line of travel of saidcourse of the film carriers will be at an angle of 45 to the principalaxis of lens system, the general motion of the lower course of the filmcarriers will be in a direction away from the lens system.

The series of prisms 60 of the film carrier virtually form a series ofsteps on the under operative side of the film carrier, the lower surfaceof said steps beingin a horizontal plane and the side of said stepsfacing the lens system in a vertical plane. The film or photographicmedium is held smoothly against the stepped surface of the film carrierby a mechanism which will be next described.

Mounted upon the interior of the casing 1 shaft 7 5 mounted to turn inbearings 7 6-7 7 provided on the side of the bracket 34, and theopposite end of the shaft is provided preferably with a spiral toothedgear 78 arranged to mesh with a spiral toothed gear 79 on the maindriving shaft Also secured to the inside of the casing 1 is a bracket80similar to the bracket 69, and provided at its outer free end withbearings 8l8l. within which is journaled a shaft 82, said shaft beingprovided with a pair of spaced idler wheels 83-83.

Said sprocket Wheels 72-72 and spaced idler sprocket wheels 8383 arearranged to support and carry a sprocket chain, which is composed of aplurality of links 84 pivotally connected together by pivot pins 85. thewidth of the links Set being substantially equa to the distance betweenthe adjacent faces of the idler sprocket wheels 8383. Said sprocketwheels 72-72 are arranged to cooperate with opposite sides respectivelyof the pivot pins 8:) of the sprocket chain which project laterallybeyond the sides of the links 84, and are arranged to fit into thesprocket teeth of the sprocket wheels 7272 as the sprocket chains passtherearound, and similarly the idler sprocket Wheels 83-83 are arrangedto engage the opposite ends respectively of the pivot pins 85 as thechain passes between and around said sprocket wheels.

)ne course of said sprocket chain is arranged adjacent and parallel tothe under course of the film carrier and closely adacent one sidethereof. The links 84 of said sprocket chain are substantially equal inlength to the links 47 of the film carrier and the gearing 79. 7 74 and73 is so proportioned as to impart to the sprocket chain passing aroundthe sprocket wheels 72-72 and 8383-the same linear speed as that whichthe film carrier receives.

Moreover, each link 84 of said sprocket chain is provided with anoutwardly projecting post or bar 86 so positioned on said links 84 as tolie closely in the angle between the vertical fa e of the adjacent prism60,

of the. travel of the film carrier.

Each link 84 is provided on one end with a rounded corner 84, the outersurface of which is cylindrical about the axis of its respective pivot.the result being that the sprocket chain is free to flex in onedirection. but is prevented from flexing in the opposite direction byreason of the fact that substantially throughout the lower course theunrounded corners of the adjacent links.

abut. thusinsuring the maintenance of. the sprocket chain in asubstantiallyright line between the '[)l '()(l((t wheels 83--88 uponwhich the chain is mounted.

From the almve it will he plain that the film ur photographic medium 46passes into the casing 1 between the guide rollers 8787. It passes overthe apex of a prism (30 of the film carrier and almost immedia- .atclythe opposite side of said film 46 is enthe post 86 draws the film 46tightly against the .outer surface of the prisms 60 and holds the saidfilm 46 against the stepped surface of the film carrier throughout thedownward course of the lilin carrier with one section of the filmhorizontal and the immediately adjacent section of the film vertical.The converse of this operation is performed by the film carrier andposts 86 at the end of the downward course of travel; that is to say. asthe prisms (it) deflect from their straight course between the idlerpulleys 4:1 and 44C to move in a curved path around the same they moveaway from the posts orbars 86 and permit the film or photographic mediumto straighten out as the same is delivered from between the steppedsurface of the carricr and the posts so that the film is substantiallydelivered as a straight strip of film. The film is thus drawn away fromthe carrier by the drawing rollers 86. and thence out of the casing l toa suitable reel (not shown).

lf the photographic medium 46 be a sensitized photographic film. it isof course obvious that the film is delivered to the feed rollers 84"from a dark receptacle, presumably attached to or connected with theeasing 1. and the exposed sensitized film 46 will be similarly deliveredby the drawing rollers 88 to another darkened chamber or suitablereceptacle. in which the exposed film might be contained until it couldbe developed. It the photographic medium or film 46 be a positive print.it is obvious that the film might be delivered to the feed roll.- ers 87dire tly from a suitable reel and delivered from the drawing rollers 88to a second suitable reel upon which the same wo ld be rewound.

-The apparatus above described is particularly adapted for use inproducing color photography. that is to say. the pictures of objects inmotion may be recorded in natural colors upon the sensitized film or thefilm so produced or made may be projected upon the screen by the .lbOVQme' hanism to produce a motion picture in natural colors. To accomplishthis I preferably provide each of the links 84 with a frame 89 forcontaining a color scrcen 90. and make the post or bar 86 constitute oneside of said frame 89. The frames 89 are each so'set with respect to thelinks 84 as to lie closely adjacent the horizontal plane of itsrespective prism during the downward operative course of the film on thefilm carrier. thus placing a suitable color screen 90 directly over thehorizontal surface 'ofthe sensitized film 46 as it enters the field ofthe lens, when the device is used as a camera, and to cover thecorrespomling'print when the device is used as a projector. These frames89 are so arranged as to consecutively present the color screens 90 inproper sequence, as for instance, screens or filters having color valuescorresponding to red, blue, and green, and

of course the same sequence should be maintained in projecting upon ascreenthe positive prints made from negatives formed by the use of saidcolor screens.

Inasmuch as the film carrier and the series of reflectors both travel,generally-speaking, in a direction away from the lens during theoperation of the device and make the same angle 45 to the principal axisof the lenssystem although their lines of travel are n planes normaltoeach other and coincident with the principal axis'of the lens, it isapparentthat the resultant motion of each reflector and the cooperatingportion of the film in a direction parallel to the principal axis of thelens, and'since the resultant of these motions in either of these planes(for example in the vertical plane), is along the side and thehypotenuse of a right-angled isosceles triangle, as clearly indicated inFig. 9, the distance from the optical center 0 of the lens system to anypoint in the exposed surfaces 46 and 46 of the film, will be constantand the focus may be maintained, notwithstanding the fact that a filmand the reflector are constantly in motion, and that exposed portion ofthe film may be in different parallel planes.

Another result of this construction is that the field of illumination ofthe lens as projected to or upon the film or film carrier, remainsstationary with respect to that portion of the film or photographicmedium throughout the time during which any portion of said film iswithin thefield of said lens. In other words, a fixed and correctoptical relationship is constantly maintained between the virtual imageprojected by the lens system and the film-when the device is being usedas a camera and between the positive and the picture on the screen whenthe device is used as a projector.

From the foregoing description of the apparatus of this application,particularly when used as a camera, it will be apparent that the actionof the reflectors and the cooperating portions of the film as supportedupon the film carrier in separate parallel planes produce substantiallya focal plane camera effect in the exposure which is made on the film.The virtual image is stationarily positioned with respect to the filmnotwithstanding the fact that the film is constantly moving, and theexposure is the rela tively gradual progressive exposure of a focalplane shutter camera. A portion of the This action enables me to varythe timeof the actual exposure of the film. By reducing the area of thereflecting surface any selected point in the exposed portion of the filmwill be exposed to the action of light for only that length of timerequired for the reflecting surface to pass through the field ofillumination. If, therefore, the reflecting surface be made narrower,the time of exposure is proportionately reduced. The reflecting surfacemay be made narrower in any desired manner, as for instance, byblackening a portion or portions of the reflectingsurface, or byactually making the reflecting surface narrow as compared with the areaof illumination of the lens system. In this manner, ,the sharpdefinition obtained in the ordinary focal plane shutter camera isreadily obtained, and in fact from this point of view, this apparatus,when used as a camera, may be properly termed a camera forphotographically recording objects in motion, embodying a focal planeexposure of the film.

I In Figs. 10 to 12 inclusive, is illustrated in a' diagrammatic manner,the way in which the cooperating surfaces of the reflectors and of the ative surfaces of the prisms coact during the operation of the device,the unshaded squares indicating the active surfaces of the prisms andthe shaded squares indicating the active reflecting surfaces, two activecooperating surfaces of the prisms are designated as 60 and 60 and twoactive cooperating reflecting surfaces are designated 23 and 23*. In"Fig. 10 the a tive portion 60 of one prism is in co-extensiveregistration with a reflector 23". This relation occurs, however, butfor a moment during the operation of the device, for from the nextmoment of their travel until the succeeding surfaces 60 and 23 reach thesame relation with each other there will always be two adjacentreflectors co-acting with two adjacent active portions of the prisms. InFig. ll'the prism surfa es 60' and 60 and reflector surfaces 23* and 23are shown as having advanc eduntil only half of a reflector 23 is invertical alinement with half an active surface 60 of the prism withwhich it cooperates, and the following co-acting surfaces 23 and 60 areshown as having half the surface of one coacting with one half thesurface of the other.

2 In Fig. 12, the surfaces have continued their movement until only onequarter of the first mentioned'reflector is in active relationship withone quarter of its cooperating film carrier surface while the followingreflector has threefourths of the surfaces co-acting with three fourthsof the surfaces of its co-acting portion of the film or film carrier.The Virtual image, represented by a star, will 'emain stationary, withrespect to the surace.

In order to use the device as a projector, I provide the casing 1 with alens 91 mounted'in a suitable casing 92, provided with a cap 93 forclosing the lens 91, when the same is not in use. The prisms 60 are madeof glass. Referring to Fig. 16, the said lens 91 is diagrammaticallyindicated as is the glass prism 60 and the film or image strip 46. Thisfilm or image strip, however, is a positive print obtained from anegative made from the exposed film. One reflecting prism 22 is alsoindicated as is the fixed lens system 2. A suitable illuminating device,such as an are or calcium light 94 is arranged to throw its light intothe casing through the lens 91. The film carrier and the series ofreflectors are then moved as they were when the device was used as acamera as above set forth, with the result that the prism 60 acts as a.reflector for the light entering its vertical face from the lens 91 andreflects it to the co operating reflector 22 and thence out through thefixed lens 2. This is possible by reason of the fact that in thedeveloped film there is a clear space between adjacent negatives due tothe fact that the vertical surfaces of the film on its carrier duringthe operation of the device as a camera do not receive any light throughthe fixed lens system. Therefore, when the film is developed there areclear spaces coextensive with the vertical face of the film carrierbetween adjacent njegatives. This clear portion 95 of the film 46 isclearly illustrated in Fig. 14, while the negatives are indicated by thenumeral 96. In Fig. 13, the film 46 is-a sensitized film having surfaces97 provided with a sensitive emulsion.

With the device set up and arranged as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, I preferto mount the lens 91 in one side of the casing and to provide areflector 98 mounted on a suitable support 99 and secured to the insideof the casing in alinement therewith so that the light permitted toenter the casing through the lens 91 will strike first against thereflector 98 and be deflected thence ,through the vertical surface ofthe glass prism 60 which may be in alinement therewith. In Fig. 15 isshown the image strip as a positive print from a negative the same beingshown in the position in which it is bent during its operativeengagement with the film carrier.

The apparatus forming the subject matter of this application may then beused either as a camera or as a projector. When used as a camera, theopening of the condenser lens 91 is closed in any suitable manner, as bythe cap. When used as a projector, the cap over the condenser lens 9lisremoved and light is reflected or conducted to the interior of thecasing as above described.

When the device is used as a combined apparatus, that is to say, notarranged so as to be used either as a camera or a projector, but isarranged to operate as a camera, it is not necessary that the prisms 60be made of glass; in fact, it is preferable that they should be made ofsome opaque substance. WVhen, however, they are constructed of glass soas to permit of the device being used as a projector as above described,a film or strip 100 of opaque black paper or similar material should befed in with the sensitized film 46 so as to come between the film andthe carrier to prevent the light from passing through the film andthrough the glass prism and fogging the film. In Fig. 1 and Fig. 7 theprism 60 was assumed to be of glass and the opaque paper strip 100 isshown as interposed between the sensitized film and the film supportingsurface of the film carrier, that is to say, between the sensitized filmand the glass prisms 60.

It should be noted that when the device is used as a projector ofpictures in natural colors, the field of illumination remains stationarywith respect to the screen, except in so far as the object or image maymove,-

while the record thereof was being taken or made, but the substantiallyprimary and complementary colors of the visible spectrum sweep acrossthe illuminated portion of the screen in waves, one following the other,and, except for an instant when the illuminated portion is all of onecolor, there will be two colors moving across the screen continually insuccession. In other words, starting with the position in which thepicture is of a color corresponding to red, and moving the apparatusslowly as the record and reflectors move the next color, that correspondto the blue will appear along one edge of the picture and will appear tomove toward the opposite side of the picture while the areacorresponding to the red decreases until it has appeared to have passedoff the screen, at which time the color corresponding to blue will coverthe entire picture. Immediately thereafter, however, the colorcorresponding to blue will appear to move across the screen, as did thatcorresponding to the red, while the color corresponding to the green,appearing at the side of the picture, replaces'the color correspondingto blue as fast as it moves toward the opposite side. until the entirepicture is of a color corresponding to green. The color corresponding tored. however, similarly follows that correspomling to green and bothappear to move in the same direction, the former indue to what hasheretofore been referred to as persistance of vision. There are twocolors on the screen substantially all the time, and while one set. ofnerves in the eye may respond more fully to one color (2'. c. the red)than to another color (0. the blue) nevertheless the nerves respondingto red respond in a somewhat less degree to blue, and somewhat, thoughtoa less extent to green. A similar relation exists between the nervesresponding to blue, green and red, respectively and to green, red andblue respe: tively.

Hence it is that the rapid succession of these colors in natu 'alsequence on the screen in waves keeps all the nerves of the eye each insome state of vibration when the light is permitted to pass through thefilm in projection and the action of the waves is the relatively naturalgradual action which is performed by the eye in analyzing any colortransmitted to the eye naturally. and the eye of the observer ofpictures of objects in motion in natural colors produced in accordancewith the invention of this applica tion is not strained or injured.

By providing the device, when used as a camera, with screens or lightfilters of the three colors corresponding to the primary andcomplemental colorsof the visible spectrum and arranging them in theirnormal sequence, (a. g. the colors corresponding to red, blue and green)all of the color values of the obje'ts being photographed will beaccurately recorded on the sensitized surfaces, and when prints, fromthe negatives so formed, are projected by the said apparatus to a screenthrough light filters corresponding to the same primary colors, in thesame order, the resulting pictures on the screen will show the object orobjects in exact natural colors.

In other words, by the practice of the invention of this application thereproduction upon a screen, of objects in all their natu= ral colors isreadily effected by first obtaining a negative photographic recordcontaining all of the true and natural chromatic characteristics of agiven object screening the potential picture spaces on the sensitizedmedium with consecutive sets of complemental color-value filters duringthe process of exposure, and following this by projecting light througha relatively transparent medium composed of a series of prints from saidnegative. photographic record each print being projected through aproper color screen or filter corresponding to that employed during theexposure in the camera of the corresponding surface of the sensitizedfilm, the filters employed in the recording and projecting being thosewhich correspondto the main primary and complemental colors of thevisible spectrum arranged in sequence and in their natural order.

\Vhile in the above apparatus, all ordinary forms of shutters have beeneliminated and the light is permitted to pass into or out of the lenssystem continuously, the serlcs of reflecting s-urfaccs act tosuccessively expose (in the camera) and to bring into action (in theprojector) the successively adjacent sections of the film or thephotographic medium and to this extent the reflecting media operate aslight chutters.

Tn projecting pictures of an object in natural colors as abovedescribed. in the above described apparatus the series of prints on thetransparentmedium of the projector, operate to cut oil or diminish theamount of light permitted to pass through parts or portions of themedium, the light, passing through a series of three consecutive oreomplemental prints, being variable. and different in similar parts ofthe dill'erent complcnicntal prints depending upon the actinic value ofthe light which was allowed to pass to the sensitized surface throughthe particular color screen or filter employed in taking the originalnegative of that print, and to that extent the film, or series ofprints, from a given negative, acts as a color value shutter.

Thus, in the invention of this application there is, from one point ofview. a co active operation of a color value shutter with a reflector orseries of reflectors acting as light shutters, and these featuresconstitute an important part of the invention.

Of course, it is to be understood that if desired, the apparatus of thisapplication may be used to record pictures of objects in motion in theordinary black and white form: that is to say, by either removing thecolor screens from the frames without otherwise modifying or changingthe construction or operation of the mechanism and the prints made frontthe negtaives so formed may be similarly projected Without theinterposition of color screens.

That any point in' a film during exposure or any image strip duringprojectionand within the field of illumination of the lens is always ata fixed distance from the optical center of the lens notwithstanding thefact that the film or image strip moves with respect tothe lens-will beclearly apparent by reference to Fig. 9. Inasmuch as the reflectors 22and the block 60 upon which the film or strip is supported, move at thesame linear speed and each at an angle of 45 the principal axis of thelens system, the distance IIJI between the optical center of the lenssystem and the surface 60 will always equal icy 2, the distance betweenthe optical center of the lens and the surface 60 It therefore followsthat if one portion of part of the film or image strip be in focus withthe lens all the otherparts of the image strip or film, whether they belocated in the same or different planes, will be in focus, andthe.distance between the 0p- -tical center of the lens and any portionof the film or ima e strip within the field of illumination of the lenswill be constant.

It is, of5course, obvious that slight changes both in construction andin the operation of the device may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of this invention so long as such changes ormodifications fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a motion picture apparatus,'a fixed lens system. means to bend aphotographic medium into a series of substantially consecutive separateparallel planes, means to continuously move said record so shaped intoand through the field of illumination of said lens, and means to hold amoving set of color screens or filters, each corresponding to a primarycolor against said medium to move therewith, each screen beingsubstantially co-extensive with that portion of said medium againstwhich it is so held.

2. In an optical apparatus, a fixed lens system. means to bend aphotographic medium to bring adjacent active portions thereof intoseparate parallel planes with respect to eachother, a series of colorfilters each corresponding substantially to a primary color, means tohold said filters'in planes adjacent and parallel to the planes of theactive portions of said medium, and each adjacent and substantiallycoextensive with one of the planes of said medium respectively, means tocontinuously move said record so shaped and with it said color filtersso disposed, and means to reflect the active portions of said medium toand through said lens and to maintain a fixed optical distance betweenthe optical center of said lens and said medium.

3. In an optical apparatus, the combination of a fixed lens system, acontinuously moving projective medium, active portions of which arearranged in a series of consecutive parallel planes, means to, maintainan optically stationary relationship between the optical center of saidlens system and all points in said medium in the field of said lenssystem and means to interpose between said lens system and each plane ofsaid me- "dium respectively, as said series of planes move into andthrough the'field of said lens system, and to move synchronously withsaid medium, a series of light filters one for each plane respectively,each of said filters being of a color substantially corresponding to aprimary color and the progression of colors in the series of filterscorresponding substantially to the order of the colors of the spectrum.

I. The method of making continuous pictures which consists in moving-aseries of sensitized surfaces arranged in parallel planes through areflected field of illumination of a continuously open fixed lenssystem, and maintaining the image of said lens system in focus in theplanes of the respective exposed portions of said sensitized surfacesand the field of illumination stationary with respect to said sensitizedsurfaces during the passage of said sensitized surfaces through thefield of illumination of said lens system, and introducing betweenadjacent sensitized surfaces complementary color screens during thepractice of the steps of the method.

5, In an optical apparatus, a'fixed lens system, a film carrying aseries of impressions or pictures, a series of reflectors, means to movesaid reflectors with and across the film in a diagonal line divergent toa line intersecting the diagonally opposite corners of the projectingpictures and divergent from every direction of travel and means to holda moving set of color screens or filters, each corresponding to aprimary color, against said film to move therewith,

tion of an objective, a film carrying a series of sensitized surfaces,means to move said film continuously through the field of said.

objective, reflecting means to transmit light from said objective to afixed focused position on said film, means to carry said reflectingmeans with and across said record in a diagonal line and means to hold amoving set of color screens 'or filters, each corresponding to a primarycolor, against said film to move therewith, each screen beingsubstantially coextensive with that portion of said film against whichit is so held.

7. In an optical apparatus. an objective, a film having a sensitizedsurface, means to continuously move said film through the field of saidobjective, means to reflect light from said objective to a fixed focusedposition on said film .eomprisin; a plurality of rollertors. means tocarry said reflectors with. avross and away from said film in a diagonalline and means to hold a moving set of color sereens or filters, eachcorresponding to'a primary color, against said film to move therewith,each screen being substantially coextensive with that portion of saidfilm against which it is so hold.

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand this ninth (lay ofMarch. 1016.

EDMOND H. LYb'LE.

